Reserve liquid fuel controlling device



. FIGLS Aug. 2,1938. N, o, LD I 2,125,674

RESERVE LIQUID FUEL CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed De.-'1s, 1936 INVENTOR. WM4 QM ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 2, 1938 PATENT OFFlCE RESERVE LIQUID FUEL CONTROLLINGDEVICE I Nathaniel 0. Gould, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 16, 1936, Serial No. 116,052

1 Claim.

My invention relates to an improvement in meansto insure the continuousoperation of an internal combustion engine, for automobiles or likeinstallations,-whereby a reserve supply of liquid fuel is maintained inthe fuel tank subject to withdrawal only through the operation ofcontrolling means actuated by the driver from the dash of the vehicle,or like convenient locations, following a suspension in the operation ofthe engine through lack of fuel, due to neglect on the part of thedriver in determining the quantity of fuel remaining in the tank for theoperation of the engine.

One object of the present invention is to provide a discharge port forthe reserve supply of fuel in the fuel tank including a valvecontrolling said port, located below the liquid level of the reservefuel in the tank,-the valve being opened to release the reserve supplyof fuel only 0 when required for the operation of the engine, by meansconveniently located near the drivers seat,-the valve beingautomatically closed through the action of a float when the tank isrefilled. A continuous and positive discharge of the reserve supply offuel to the carbureter of the engine, through the operation of the usualpump or vacuum tank, is thus assured.

The present invention is in contradistinction to devices employing avalve seated above the liquid level of the reserve fuel which aredesigned to close against the admission of air following the stoppage ofthe engine, when the level of the liquid fuel drops below the valveseat,-but is above the level of the reserve supply of fuel. Devices ofthe latter character are subject to the vibration or movement of thevehicle, which causes an intermittent feeding and stoppage of the fuelfed to the carbureter.

In the drawing accompanying this specification: 1

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically in dotted lines an automobile, its fueltank, a pipe connection leading to a pump or vacuum tank and thence tothe carbureter of the engine;also an electrical circuit leading from asource of energy to means controlling the operation of a valve releasinga reserve supply of liquid fuel within the tank, following the stoppageof the engine, due to the main supply of fuel being exhausted.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a fuel supply tank, showingmeans for holding in reserve a portion of the fuel stored in the tank,to be released by the driver of the vehicle when the main supply of fuelis exhausted.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail of a portion of the valve controllingdevice, showing the valve open for the discharge of the reserve liquidfuel from the tank.

Figure 4is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through a housing upon thefuel tank inclosing, a magnet and means under the control of the magnetfor releasing a rod suspended from a forked arm connected with thearmature of the magnet, to release a bell-crank lever which in turnopens the discharge valve.

Figure 5 is a detail cross-sectional View, through the forked arm of thearmature, for supporting the depending rod until released by manuallyclosing the circuit through the magnet.

Referring. now to the reference characters placed upon the drawing:

Numeral I, denotes an automobile; 2, indie cates a fuel supply tank forthe engine; 3, designates a pipe-line leading from the fuel tank 2, to avacuum tank or pump 4; and 5, indicates a connection between the pump orvacuum tank and a carbureter 6,-and thence to the engine (not shown).

Numeral 7, denotes a pipe extending downwardly from pipe 3, to a pointnear the bottom of fuel tank 2, provided with an upturned nipple 8, openat its upper end, through which the liquid fuel may be drawn by theoperation of the pump, or vacuum tank, for delivery to the carbureter.

, Numeral 9, indicates a horizontal nipple projecting from the dependingpipe I, having an open endin which is sleeved an annular valve I I] witha transverse port II, through its skirt, which on being uncoveredpermits the passage of liquid fuel from the reserve fuel supply,-Figure3,-out through the horizontal nipple into pipes leading to the pump, orvacuum tank, and carbureter. Numeral I2, indicates a bracket arm,clamped to the depending pipe 'I, having a downwardly extending leg I3,resting upon the floor of the tank, with an opening therein to guide andsupport the valve stem Ill Numeral I 4, denotes a bell-crank leverpivoted to the bracket arm. One arm of the lever I4, is forked toreceive the valve stem Ill of the valve I0,--the tines of the forked armprojecting between spaced flanges I5-I5, mounted upon the stem;so thatupon tilting the lever, the valve may be shifted to close or open theport II through the skirt of the valve. Numeral It, indicates a floatsecured to a depending rod I1, and upon the tank receiving its usualsupply of gasoline, the float rises closing the valve l0, against thewithdrawal of the reserve supply of fuel until the valve II], isreleased following the stoppage of the engine,-

' its opposite end against the forked portion of the;

The depending rod I1, is piv- Figure 3, the reserve supply of fuel isreleased to as a result of the consumption of the main body of fuel.Secured within the wall of the housing 18, on the top of the tank is amagnet l9, energize-d through the closure of an electrical circuit by apush button or switch 20, mounted on an instrument board or otherconvenient location for the driver of the vehicle. Numeral 2|, denotesthe armature of the magnet, fitted with a projecting forked slidablemember 22, extending through an opening in a partition wall 23, bridgingthe wall of the housing. The tines 24, of the forked member 22, areguided and supported by channel members -45, secured to and projectinginwardly from the wall of the housing. Numeral 26, denotes a spring,sleeved upon the stem of the forked member 22, which bears at one endagainst the wall of the partition and at slidable member. oted at itslower end to one arm of the bell-crank lever,l4, while the upper end ofthe rod enters a socket formed in a lug 21, extending downwardly fromthe cap of the housing. Integral with the rod [1, is a lug ll ,seeFigure 2,adapted to overlap the stem of the forked member 22, tomaintain the bell-crank lever M, in the position indicated in Figure 2,in order that the valve I0, may be normally closed against the dischargeof the reserve supply of fuel in the tank. When the valve is held in anopen position, as shown in gasoline has been exhausted through the operation of the engine,and desiring to continue its further operation-hereleases the depending rod connecting the bell-crank lever by closingthe circuit through the magnet by the switch or push button provided forthat purpose. The armature is thus drawn toward the magnet and releasesthe depending rod by the withdrawal of the supporting forked member. Theweight of the rod and float in dropping rocks the bell-crank lever whichin turn opens the valve controlling the discharge of the reserve supplyof fuel, whereupon the pump or vacuum tank delivers the reserve gasolineto the carbureter, thereby continuing the further operation of theengine. When the fuel tank is refilled the float l6 secured to the rodll, raises the latter and rocks the bell-crank lever l4, thereby closingthe valve l0, against withdrawal of the reserve supply of fuel until itis again released. The rod I1, when raised sufficiently to close thevalve I0, is held in its elevated position by the forked member 22, ofthe armature 2|, which is projected by the ,spring 26, beneath the lugl1 ,thereby holding the valve closed until again released-as previouslydescribed.

What I claim is:

The combination of a fuel tank, a fuel supply pipe leading from thebottom of the tank, with an upturned nipple open on a plane with thepredetermined level of 1 the reserve fuel to be maintained in said tank,said supply pipe also extending horizontally adjacent the bottom of thetankwith an open end adapted to be closed by a valve; a valve submergedin the reserve fuel, adapted to maintain the open end of the supply pipenormally closed; means fitted with a float, adapted to insure a definiteopening and closing of said submerged valve, whereby the latter may notchatter and cause intermittent operation of the engine; and a remotelyactuated electrical controlling means, adapted when actuated to releasethe means fitted with a float, and whereby the valve is held open torelease the reserve fuel, until automatically closed through the act ofrefilling the tank.

NATHANIEL O. GOULD.

